Kirth Gersen
Encyclopedia
Kirth Gersen is the protagonist of the five Demon Princes
novels by Jack Vance
, set approximately 1500 years in the future. When he was a boy, he and his grandfather were the only members of a peaceful and harmless space colony to escape a massacre and slave raid (the "Mount Pleasant Massacre") perpetrated by pirates led by five master criminals known as the "Demon Princes." The grandfather devotes the rest of his life to training the young Gersen--on Earth, Alphanor and other central planets of the Oikumene--to be the avenger who will track down and summarily execute the Demon Princes.
, the first book in the series. He is an expert in numerous fighting techniques, including bare-handed combat, knife-fighting, and the exotic poisoning techniques practiced by the Sarkoy
. He is also intelligent and patient, capable of a good deal of deductive work, and possessed of ample courage, given that his life's quest must necessarily bring him into opposition with five of the inhabited galaxy's most dangerous and unscrupulous criminals, all of whom possess vast resources (in the case of Viole Falushe, a planet of his own).
, however, Gersen gains fabulous wealth by running a scam on Kokor Hekkus, a Demon Prince who is holding him for ransom, and on Interchange, the institution that facilities the ransoming of kidnap victims. However, he is not given to conspicuous consumption and, barring expenditure on a succession of new and more luxurious spacecraft, he uses his money mostly to further his work. He acquires at least one bank and a magazine with galaxy-wide circulation, the latter allowing him to assume the identity of a reporter from time to time.
. Instead, he is as much concerned with the welfare of his fellow man as an average man might be, and not one who had spent fifteen years or more in training to become an assassin. He displays chivalry upon occasion, inconveniencing himself, sustaining injury or putting himself in harm's way to rescue women who are in need.
A common view is that he is a normal man who has had a path in life forced upon him. The true villains of the series are the five Demon Princes and, also perhaps his grandfather, who molded him into a killing machine to exact his revenge. However, the redemptive piece is that Kirth's humanity prevails - at the end of his quest, he has at least a chance of living a 'normal life'.
, the pair split up, chiefly because Alusz Iphigenia cannot understand his cold and singleminded pursuit of vengeance, especially since the now-wealthy Gersen could subcontract his dangerous and horrifying life's work. At the end, she even starts to fear him a little. It is unclear whether this relationship was ever consummated.
His quest for Viole Falushe brings him into association with Drusilla Wayles, a parthenogenetic daughter of Jheral Tinzy, Viole Falushe's life-long obsession, from whom he later parts rather than repeat the unhappy ending of his relationship with Alusz Iphigenia. At the end of the book, he meets another, slightly older, Drusilla, and the acquaintance appears mutually delightful. However, there is no sign of her by the time of the events chronicled in The Face
.
During this fourth quest, he meets yet another young woman, Jerdian Chanseth, only to lose her too, owing to the snobbish exclusivity of her father and homeworld. Finally, he has the aid and companionship of Alice Wroke in The Book of Dreams
. As the saga closes with all his enemies brought to harsh justice at his hands, Gersen faces the difficult transition from monomaniacal assassin to ordinary citizen.
Addels takes on the work and delivers sterling service, and also furthers Gersen's detective work from time to time, occasionally at some risk to his own person. For the most part, he suspends judgment as to Gersen's life's work, which he chooses not to enquire into too closely; but given that at one point he becomes directly involved in the plot to hunt down Lens Larque
, it may be supposed that he has some idea what Gersen is about, and approves.
Demon Princes
The Demon Princes is a five-book series of science fiction novels by Jack Vance, which cumulatively relate the story of one Kirth Gersen as he exacts his revenge on five notorious criminals, collectively known as the Demon Princes, who carried his village off into slavery during his childhood...
novels by Jack Vance
Jack Vance
John Holbrook Vance is an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. Vance has published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen...
, set approximately 1500 years in the future. When he was a boy, he and his grandfather were the only members of a peaceful and harmless space colony to escape a massacre and slave raid (the "Mount Pleasant Massacre") perpetrated by pirates led by five master criminals known as the "Demon Princes." The grandfather devotes the rest of his life to training the young Gersen--on Earth, Alphanor and other central planets of the Oikumene--to be the avenger who will track down and summarily execute the Demon Princes.
Appearance and demeanour
Gersen is about 34 at the beginning of Star KingStar King
Star King is a science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, the first in his Demon Princes series...
, the first book in the series. He is an expert in numerous fighting techniques, including bare-handed combat, knife-fighting, and the exotic poisoning techniques practiced by the Sarkoy
Sarkoy
The Sarkoy are the people of the planet Sarkovy, featured in Star King and The Palace of Love, two of the Demon Princes novels of Jack Vance. Sarkoy mainly inhabit the steppes of their somewhat bleak and unforgiving planet.-Habits and customs:...
. He is also intelligent and patient, capable of a good deal of deductive work, and possessed of ample courage, given that his life's quest must necessarily bring him into opposition with five of the inhabited galaxy's most dangerous and unscrupulous criminals, all of whom possess vast resources (in the case of Viole Falushe, a planet of his own).
Wealth and resources
At the beginning of his quest, Gersen owns a small spaceship, and otherwise possesses little wealth, though enough to go extremely well armed when circumstances both demand and permit it, and enough to further his detective work with occasional minor purchases and bribes. During the events described in The Killing MachineThe Killing Machine
The Killing Machine is a science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, the second in his "Demon Princes" series, in which Kirth Gersen, having brought arch-villain Malagate the Woe to justice, sets his sights on Kokor Hekkus, another of the Demon Princes...
, however, Gersen gains fabulous wealth by running a scam on Kokor Hekkus, a Demon Prince who is holding him for ransom, and on Interchange, the institution that facilities the ransoming of kidnap victims. However, he is not given to conspicuous consumption and, barring expenditure on a succession of new and more luxurious spacecraft, he uses his money mostly to further his work. He acquires at least one bank and a magazine with galaxy-wide circulation, the latter allowing him to assume the identity of a reporter from time to time.
Personality
Given his unusual circumstances, it would not be unreasonable to expect Gersen to be a borderline sociopathPsychopathy
Psychopathy is a mental disorder characterized primarily by a lack of empathy and remorse, shallow emotions, egocentricity, and deceptiveness. Psychopaths are highly prone to antisocial behavior and abusive treatment of others, and are very disproportionately responsible for violent crime...
. Instead, he is as much concerned with the welfare of his fellow man as an average man might be, and not one who had spent fifteen years or more in training to become an assassin. He displays chivalry upon occasion, inconveniencing himself, sustaining injury or putting himself in harm's way to rescue women who are in need.
A common view is that he is a normal man who has had a path in life forced upon him. The true villains of the series are the five Demon Princes and, also perhaps his grandfather, who molded him into a killing machine to exact his revenge. However, the redemptive piece is that Kirth's humanity prevails - at the end of his quest, he has at least a chance of living a 'normal life'.
Romantic entanglements
During the course of the novels, he experiences a series of romantic interludes of gradually increasing intensity. In Star King, he dates a young clerk, Pallis Atwrode, whom he must later rescue. In The Killing Machine, he encounters Alusz Iphigenia Eperje-Tokay, and seems to be growing involved with her; but early in the following book, The Palace of LoveThe Palace of Love
The Palace of Love ia science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, the third in his Demon Princes series.-Plot summary:...
, the pair split up, chiefly because Alusz Iphigenia cannot understand his cold and singleminded pursuit of vengeance, especially since the now-wealthy Gersen could subcontract his dangerous and horrifying life's work. At the end, she even starts to fear him a little. It is unclear whether this relationship was ever consummated.
His quest for Viole Falushe brings him into association with Drusilla Wayles, a parthenogenetic daughter of Jheral Tinzy, Viole Falushe's life-long obsession, from whom he later parts rather than repeat the unhappy ending of his relationship with Alusz Iphigenia. At the end of the book, he meets another, slightly older, Drusilla, and the acquaintance appears mutually delightful. However, there is no sign of her by the time of the events chronicled in The Face
The Face (Vance)
The Face is a science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, the fourth novel in the "Demon Princes" series. This book was published nearly twelve years after the third.-Plot summary:...
.
During this fourth quest, he meets yet another young woman, Jerdian Chanseth, only to lose her too, owing to the snobbish exclusivity of her father and homeworld. Finally, he has the aid and companionship of Alice Wroke in The Book of Dreams
The Book of Dreams
The Book of Dreams is a science fiction book by American author Jack Vance, the fifth and last novel in the "Demon Princes" series.-Synopsis:...
. As the saga closes with all his enemies brought to harsh justice at his hands, Gersen faces the difficult transition from monomaniacal assassin to ordinary citizen.
Jehan Addels
Gersen has one long-term associate. Having come into possession of an enormous fortune via a swindle perpetrated in the lawless Beyond, Gersen needs to invest the money. To this end, he engages a financial advisor named Jehan Addels, whom he promises a large salary with regular increments and the interesting challenge of investing an enormous amount of money that would bankrupt many a government. He chooses Addels on the basis of his reputation for competence and honesty, wanting neither to destabilise any economies, nor to see his vast wealth embezzled; and especially not to compromise his own anonymity by sending ripples through the financial world.Addels takes on the work and delivers sterling service, and also furthers Gersen's detective work from time to time, occasionally at some risk to his own person. For the most part, he suspends judgment as to Gersen's life's work, which he chooses not to enquire into too closely; but given that at one point he becomes directly involved in the plot to hunt down Lens Larque
The Face (Vance)
The Face is a science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, the fourth novel in the "Demon Princes" series. This book was published nearly twelve years after the third.-Plot summary:...
, it may be supposed that he has some idea what Gersen is about, and approves.